LSRV boys basketball team loses 1st game, still qualifies for state

Results

Results from the Little Snake River Valley School boys varsity basketball team’s championship game in the Wyoming 1A west regional tournament:

Saturday’s championship game

— St. Stephens 62, LSRV 59

LSRV leading scorers:

(Name — points)

· Daniel Wille — 24

· Sean Rietveld — 15

· Miles Englehart — 10

With a 60-38 victory over Burlington on Friday, the Little Snake River Valley School boys varsity basketball team accomplished its preseason goal of qualifying for the Wyoming 1A state tournament.

On Saturday, a 62-59 loss to St. Stephens in the 1A west regional tournament put the first blemish on the Rattlers’ overall season record.

The Rattlers, who entered the regional tournament a perfect 22-0, couldn’t close out St. Stephens after leading by three with about two minutes left.

“We actually played a pretty good game,” head coach Paul Prestrud said. “We got into some foul trouble and missed about three or four lay-ups early in the first quarter we usually make.”

Prestrud said the game remained close throughout, with St. Stephens going up by only six points.

Despite the loss, the Rattlers head to the 1A state tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Casper, Wyo.

“Our goal was not to go undefeated this season,” Prestrud said. “We wanted to go to state and we have done that.”

The Rattlers previously beat St. Stephens, 63-50, on Jan. 14 at home in the regular season.

Prestrud said Saturday’s game was basically a home game for St. Stephens, which is only 20 miles from Lander, Wyo., where the game was played.

“We lost to another good team, but we beat them by 13 early in the season and they beat us by three,” he said. “I think this loss will push us and we will have a gut check and be in good shape for the state tournament.”

Up by three with two minutes left, Prestrud said his team turned the ball over and St. Stephens was able to capitalize with made free throws.

Daniel Wille led the Rattlers with 24 points and Sean Rietveld added 15.

Two of the Rattlers’ starters, Rex Stanley and Connor Lee, fouled out of the game.

As the Rattlers prepare to take on Upton at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Casper Events Center, Prestrud said his team would be ready.

“We have to take this one day at a time, as we have been doing,” he said. “We will re-commit and come back with a fire in us.”

With the preseason goal of a state title still in grasp, Prestrud said his team would have to continue to play hard.

“It is better to lose this weekend than next,” he said. “We can still accomplish our goal, we just have to take care of business.”